A Charlottetown Chinese food restaurant was slapped with a warning letter by the Department of Health and Wellness because a refrigeration unit wasn’t working properly.
During a followup inspection at Kings BBQ & Chinese Food on Sept. 23, health officers noted an issue with the holding temperature of a refrigeration unit.
“The refrigeration unit was not able to maintain proper cold temperatures,’’ said Ryan Neale, senior environmental health officer with the department.
“Food that has the potential for spoilage and the action of toxin-producing organisms must be kept under 4 C or lower.’’
Warning letters are the first step in the department’s progressive enforcement procedures.
Failure to comply with a department warning letter results in a notice of intent to issue a health order.
Failure to address the problem at that point brings the actual health order which forces the owner to take immediate action or face possible closure.
He said operators are required to keep a thermometer inside refrigeration units and monitor the temperature.
The purpose, of course, is to prevent the risk of food-borne illnesses.
“Improper cooling of food is actually the number one improper food handling practice that can lead to a food-borne illness.’’
Neale said inspectors recommended the restaurant hire a professional to assess the equipment.
“They did hire a professional to assess the unit and repair the unit and when we followed up with our inspection on Sept. 27 the unit was working properly and all the food within it was being held at the proper refrigeration temperature.’’
Health inspectors were also busy in September issuing warning letters to nine different establishments across the province for not carrying a valid licence, including C&T Convenience in Crapaud, Clow’s Red & White Convenience in North Wiltshire, D&S Sweet Potatoes in Uigg, the O’Leary Community Complex, The Root Cellar in the Confederation Court Mall, Slemon Park Hotel Restaurant, St. Anthony’s Legion Branch 27, Summerside Firemen’s Association and Summerside Presbyterian Church.
A valid food service licence is required even for establishments that do not serve food on a regular basis. Church suppers, for example, fall in that category.
Neale said it’s important for everyone that carries a food service licence to make sure they renew it every year.
